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By Clement Sequeira Published on: Fri Apr 8, 2022
The turning kick requires flexibility of the legs and balance of the body to hold the weight of the entire body supported on the non-kicking leg. Hit the chest, face, or head of the opponent using the turning kick with the back/leading leg in forward stance, or the scissor-move turning kick in back stance.
National-level medallist and authorised instructor, your sensei has over 25 years of experience in this martial art form. Clement is a 4th Dan Black belt and also holds distinguished positions as a national level judge with Karate Association of India, and a continental referee with the World Union of Karate-Do Federations.
While the previous blog was on elbow strikes and techniques, this one covers the turning kick in Karate. It is an intermediate and powerful kick to attack an opponent in Karate practice as well as self-defence. This is the third kick you’ll be learning in Karate, after having gone through the front and side kicks in earlier blogs. The turning kick mainly aims to hit the chest, face, or head of the opponent using the ball/heel of the foot. In Japanese terminology, especially in Karate practice, the turning kick is known as "Mawashi Geri."
The turning kick requires flexibility of the legs and balance of the body while kicking, to hold the weight of the entire body supported on the non-kicking leg. For this reason, Karatekas go through a lot of balance and leg flexibility and strengthening exercises.
In this technique, the Karateka, in a forward stance, lifts up his back leg, folded at the knee, with the knee pointing sideways, makes a 90-degree turn at the hip, balancing the weight on the leading leg, and thrusts the foot forward, in a twisting move, making a strike with ball/heel of the foot. The kicking leg then lands back and forms a forward-stance position.
In this technique, the Karateka, in a forward stance, lifts up his leading leg, bending at the knee while transferring the weight onto the back leg, makes a 90-degree turn at the hip, and thrusts the foot forward in a twisting move, making a strike with the ball/heel of the foot. The kicking leg then lands down and forms a forward-stance position.
In this technique, the Karateka, in a back stance, drags his back leg, joins it with the leading leg, bending at the knee while transferring the weight onto the back leg, makes a 90-degree turn at the hip, and thrusts the foot forward in a twisting move, making a strike with the ball/heel of the foot. The kicking leg then lands down and forms a back-stance position.
These kicks are used in varied applications in Kihon, Kata and Kumite. They are a great weapon for the Karateka to attack the opponent, and are applied in real-time attack/defence scenarios during training.
With the moves you have learnt in this blog, it's time to practice, practice, and practice until you get them right. Our next blog will be on the Slap Kick.
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